5-7-2012 Kaperoni: I think it's in Maliki's best interest if he wants to stay as Prime Minister to get this done in the next 10 days. Some people on these websites say nonsense like the National Conference has already taken place and we just haven't heard about it. That's not true. I would expect the National Conference to be somewhere around mid month, around the 15th. It definitely has not occured yet so we just need to sit tight and let it happen. Even though they have been ready for months and months and months we're not going to have an RV until there is an announcement of a unified government.

There has been no official statement that the tariffs have been postponed. Just that one MP calling for it. They can't impose tariffs without an RV and they can't have accession to the WTO without an RV so it all snowballs. The GOI is getting the squeeze economically because no one wants to invest in Iraq right now until they see what occurs.

Although we did see the global banks wanting to partner with the Iraq banks but they can't do that either until this is all resolved. So, this is a very pivotal time right now for Iraq. I think it will be difficult for them to remove Maliki.

He's not going to want to name 3 ministers from opposing blocs. That would be cutting his own throat. He may give Maliki his position in the Strategic Council, we're just going to have to wait and see what happens in the next 10 days.

THIS IS IN IRAQ'S HANDS. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BANKS. SHABIBI IS WAITING ON THE NECESSARY CRITERIA TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL. HE'S LAID THIS OUT FOR US IN THE PAST.

IF WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL MEETING, SHABIBI SHOULD ACT FARILY QUICKLY. SHABIBI CONTINUES TO PREPARE FOR THIS SO CLEARLY HE THINKS THIS WILL HAPPEN AND IS DOING EVERYTHING HE NEEDS TO ON HIS END.,,